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ERA25LA199

2025-05-07 · Ocala, Florida, United States · Serious · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport OCF

Current FAA registration · N174A

Make / Model
CESSNA 182A
Year of manufacture
1957 · 68 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES (230 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19570821
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A12809

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s decision to depart on the flight with known electrical issues and his subsequent loss of situational awareness (geographic position), which resulted in his eventual decision to perform an off-airport landing.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he departed from his home during the afternoon and flew to another airport where he refueled the airplane. While there he encountered problems operating his airplane’s avionics and lights. He then asked another pilot if he could follow him back in the direction of his home airport. After departing, he lost sight of the other airplane and could not contact the other pilot using his radio. As night fell and it became dark, he was unable to determine his location stating he “lost [his] way.” He felt that he was low on fuel and needed to land. He saw a road and decided to perform a precautionary landing. The pilot was unable to recall the events that transpired after that point, but during the landing the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Personnel issues-Psychological-Perception/orientation/illusion-Geographic disorient (lost)-Pilot
  • — Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Knowledge-Knowledge of geographic area-Pilot
  • — Personnel issues-Psychological-Perception/orientation/illusion-Situational awareness-Pilot
  • — Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2025_ERA25LA199.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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